Senn galloped on Timber along the path. He didn't know where he was going, nor did he much care. A branch materialized in front of him. Timber ducked and the branch hit Senn smack in the face. "Umph!" He grunted as he hit the ground. Timber stopped after realizing that he had lost his rider and came back to pick up Senn.
"We have to keep going." Senn said, to Timber, but more to himself. "We need to get help." There was the town they passed by, Pigsville, or was it Hogstown? He climbed back onto Timber. They charged into the small village.
"Slow down you moron!" A townsfolk, holding a bottle of beverage, and swinging his steps from side to side, shouted as Timber galloped close by. But Senn didn't hear him. He quickly found what looked like a town hall. He tied up Timber nearby and rushed inside.
"Help! Somebody- I need help." He hollered. "My village was attacked. It's not far, we need to look for survivors!" The noisy pub quieted down as every pair of drunken eyes turned towards this idiotic stranger.
"Yeah, we don't sell that here." The bartender replied after an awkward silence. Someone burped. "You can buy a drink or get out." He slammed a bottle of yellow liquid on the counter. The eyes continued to stare, but more menacing this time.
Senn slumped out of the pub. "Anyone…? Please…" He muttered as he walked along the crowded street.
"Hey, watch where you're walkin'!" A passerby shouted as Senn bumped into him. Senn raised his eyes, hollow like a zombie's. "They're all gone…" The passerby shook him off and hurried away. "Wierdo."
Senn found Timber again and stroke his mane. He seemed to find new resolution. "We're not going back to Sendaria, there's nothing left for us." He led Timber out of the noisy town towards the edge. "Thalleous spoke of Ataraxia… our mission now is to find the place and figure out why he wanted us to go there." He approached the small town's edge.
The road was blocked by a group of people, all yelling and shouting. Senn was curious. He tied up Timber again and approached to investigate. He pushed to the front to see that the people were shouting at a giant tree. A farmer threw his bottle at it. The glass shattered as it hit the wooden surface, the yellow-green beverage spilling over the grass.
"What's going on?" He asked one of the shouting people.
"One of them Magnorites is on the edge of our town." She replied. "Been stirrin' up trouble with the local folk. Absolute menace I tell ya, the lot of 'em." She belched. Is anyone sober around here?
"Well, have you tried asking him to leave?" Senn asked. He may not be very experienced with Magnorites but he sure knows how to resolve quarrels back home.
"Like anyone's dumb enough to go near that thing!" The Hogstown person replied. She sized Senn up. "I don't think you belong here either, eh?" Senn wanted to shout, "I live ten kilos from here!" but realized he no longer lived there. "Why don't you get that Magnorite to leave with you?" she burped. Senn looked around. His white markings are drawing attention. It's as if all of them wanted him to leave as well. "Fine, I will." He threw down those words at the drunkards and walked to the tree.
He found the Magnorite sitting against the tree reading a book. "Oh hello there!" He waved to Senn after making a bookmark. "! I hope you don't mind if I read here. It's quite a nice piece of shade." His brown skin looked as rocky as Senn's, and his markings shone a pleasant, gentle orange.
"Uh…" Senn hesitated, "Well, I don't mind," Senn peered back at the angry horde, "but I think the people here want you to leave."
The man stood up. "Ah… pity." He sighed. "It's difficult to find a place to catch up on my reading. Been forced to travel my whole life." He smiled.
Senn remembered something. "Hang on, would you, by chance, know where Ataraxia is?" He asked.
"Nope, never heard of it." The man replied. "It appears you need a map! But you'll never find one here. This town is too small, and," He put his book beside his face so that the villagers would not hear him, though they have stayed well out of earshot. "rather lacking in the educational department if I might add."
A bottle flew towards them and it shattered on the man's cheek. Senn was concerned. "Did you… isn't that bothering you?" He asked.
"Oh no. I'm used to it." There was a sadness and helplessness in the man's voice. He brightened up almost instantly. "Hey, you know what, why don't we travel to Biggerton? It's just up the road. Surely they have a map available for purchase."
Senn knew that town. He had stayed there with Thalleous over the nights. "Yeah, getting out of here sounds like a good idea." He looked back at the angry mob again. "I'll grab my horse."
"Oh you have a horse!" cried the man. "I can't ride horses because I'm too heavy." He chuckled. "But wait! We haven't been introduced." He held out his hand. "My name's Igneous. and you?"
"Senn". Senn replied. They shook hands. "It'll be great to have some company on the road, Senn!" They set off down the road after Senn grabbed Timber. Igneous started talking almost immediately. "You see, I've been alone for a while and have had no one to talk to so I mostly just read books or descant with animals but that's rarely an enjoyable experience because the animals don't actually talk back so the conversation is often very one-sided…" "This guy really has been cooped up for too long on his own." Senn thought. He mounted Timber and followed along. Igneous walked along in quick, jolly steps.